Scott Jensen

Scott Jensen is a former Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker who was charged with multiple crimes stemming from abuse of his office. According to the Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel:

Jensen was charged in 2002 with misconduct in public office on accusations of using state resources and state workers to campaign for Assembly Republicans in 1998 and 2000 elections. Four other legislative leaders from both parties were charged around the same time. All but Jensen accepted plea agreements.

In 2006, a Dane County jury convicted Jensen of three felonies and a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison but was allowed to remain free while appealing the case.

The state Appeals Court overturned the felony convictions in late 2007 and ordered a new trial, in part because Jensen was barred at trial from testifying about his understanding of whether Democratic leaders also were using state resources to campaign. Jensen wanted to testify about that to show that his use of state resources for campaigns put him on an even footing with Democrats, rather than giving him a dishonest advantage.

Jensen did not appeal his misdemeanor conviction.

The new trial was put on hold while Jensen, of Brookfield, argued that the case should be moved to Waukesha County. In general, trials are held where crimes are alleged to have occurred. But the Legislature rewrote the law in 2007 to say politicians charged with ethics violations would be tried in their home counties.

Sourcewatch resources

 * MacIver Institute
 * Kathy Nickolaus (Waukesha County, WI Clerk who worked with Scott Jensen and for the Republican Assembly Caucus when Jensen was charged criminally -- she was granted immunity from prosecution in the case).

External resources

 * Cory Liebman, Eye on Wisconsin Shady ORG Lies about Jensen Ties, March 9, 2009